Offset harrow



g 19, 1952 B. E. ROSE 2,607,177

OFFSET HARROW Filed Aug. 22. 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR ,Bruce :5.Rose M w M,

B. E. ROSE OFFSET HARROW Aug. 19, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Aug. 22,1945 //w//v TOR Bruce E. Rose BY flTTOR/VEYS Patented Aug. 19, 1952UNITED STATES re oFFI cE This invention relates to disc harrows of theoffset gang type and the present invention is in the nature of animprovement over the ofiset harrows disclosed in my two prior patents,No.

1,895,136, issued January 24, 1933, and No. 5 broken away to illustrateparts therebehind; 1,924,416, issued August 29, 1933. Fig. 6 is asectional view taken substantially on In offset harrows of the type inwhich two line 66 of Fig. 5; gangs of discs are positioned in tandem andhave Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a cut away their axesrelatively angularly disposed when in angle member before bending whichis bent to operation, it is relatively easy to turn the -har- 10 formcorner constructions of frame members row in the direction toward whichthe axes of the employed in my invention; and gangs converge but isdifficult to turn said har- Fig.8 is a view of the parts of Fig. 7 afterbendrow in the opposite direction or in the direction ing and welding toform a corner construction. toward which the axes of the gangs diverge;In In the drawings, 9 and H] indicate, in a general common practice theaxes of the gangs of har-- Way, the front and rear gangs of anoifsetharrow. rows of this type are made to diverge toward the Each gang9 and It comprises a plurality of right of the narrow and they will beso referred concavoconvex discs ll assembled in spaced to in thisdescription. However, it willbe underapart relation on axle means I2.The concave stood that the direction of divergence of these sides of thediscs H of the front a d re gangs axes may be reversed. r are,oppositely directed. The front and rear It is an object of thisinvention to provide gangs 9 and It are respectively provided withsimple and efi'icient means of very strong and rectangular frames I 3and [4 that are connected rugged construction for connecting togetherthe y bearing means l5 with the axle means 12 of two gangs of an offsetharrow in such a manthe gangs. Where'the corners are rounded, the ner asto facilitate turning said harrowto the 5 corner construction of theframes l3 and I4 right or in the direction toward which the gangspreferably fOIlOWS that which is best illustrated diverge when inoperation. 1 in Figs. 7 and 8. The frames l3 and M are made It is afurther object of this invention'to proof angle iron having two platesI30, and i311 which vide simple and efficient means for automaticallyare substantially of the same width. One of changing the angle of axialdivergence between t p ates, Such as I31), is cut away as shown in thetwo gangs of an offset harrow in response to Fig. 7 of the drawings.Then the plate l3a, is a change in the direction of travel of a primebent as indicated in 'Fig. 8 so that the portions mover that is beingused to pull the harrow. As of the plate I311 will interfit to form aright angle the commonly used prime mover is a tractor, the bend.Thereafter the parts of the pla e 11 e term tractor is employed hereinby way of. ex- 35 welded together. This forms a corner construcample andnot as a limitation. tion which can be .bent cold and where the bend Theabove mentioned general objects of my is v r a lar e ar a. The bend canthus be acinvention, together with others inherent in the complishedwithout weakening of the member l3a, same, are attained by the mechanismillustrated and after bending, the plates [30. and [3b can be in thefollowing drawings, the same being'a. pre- 40 welded together and theweld area will be extenferred exemplary form of embodiment of my insiveas indicated. ThusI provide a corner convention, throughout whichdrawings like refstruction which is characterized by utmost ease erencenumerals indicate like parts: and economy of manufacture and utmostFigure 1 is a plan view (with parts broken strength after completion.The other above deaway) of an offset harrow constructed in aoscribedparts are of well known construction. cordance with this inventionshowing the gangs It is to be understood that the terms right and in anoperative ground cultivating position; left as herein used refer tothe'positions of parts Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gangs in aas shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and are applied to a postion they will assumewhen making a right harrow in which the axes of the gangs diverge turn,this also being a preferred position of the to the right when the harrowis in operation. gangs when the harrow is being moved but is The novelmeans herein disclosed for connectnot being used for ground cultivation;ing the two gangs together comprises three links Figs. 3 and 4 arefragmentary sectional views, or bars PS, I? and I8, a lever 19 and anadjustable with parts in elevation, taken substantially on bar 20.broken lines 33 and 64 respectively of Fig. 2 The bar It is a couplingor reach bar that 6 Claims. 01. 55-83) Fig. 51s a view takensubstantially on broken line 5-5. of Fig. 1 and showing a releasabledevice for locking an adjustable bar employed in my invention-a portionof the spring 58 being pivotally connects the front and rear gangs. Thefront end portion of this reach bar I6 is connected by a pivot 2| withthe front bar of the front frame l3. The pivot H is positionedsubstantially midway of the length of the front frame [3. The rear endportion of the reach bar I6 is connected by a pivot 22 with the rear barof the rear frame [4. The pivot 22 is positioned approximately halfwaybetween the center and the left end of the rear frame l4.

The diagonal link I! extends diagonally or obliquely between the twoframes l3 and i4 and in part controls the relative transversepositioning of the two gangs. The front end portion of the diagonal linkIT is connected by a pivot 23 with the medial portion of the rear bar ofthe front frame i3. The rear end portion of the diagonal link [1 isconnected by a pivot 24 with the front bar of the rear frame l4 near theleft end of said frame.

The diagonal link I! further serves as a compression member to withstandor counterbalance the side thrust in opposite directions of the twogangs when the gangs are in operation in the round.

The link l8 has its rear end portion connected by a pivot 25 with theleft end portion of the front bar of the rear frame 14. Preferably thepivot 25 is offset a short distance to the left of the left end of therear frame l4 as shown.

Three hold-down bars'26, 21' and 28 are rigidly secured respectively tothe front bar of the rear frame M, to the rear bar of the front frame [3and to the front bar of the front frame I3. Each hold-down bar is spacedabove the frame piece to which it is secured far enough to provideworking clearance for the bars l6 and I3. The reach link l6 operatesbetween the frames [3 and I4 and the hold-down bars 26 and 21. The drawlink l8 operates between the frame 13 and the hold-down bars 2T and 28.

The front end portion of the draw link l8, see 'Fig. 4, has a downwardlyextending block or arm 30 fixedly secured thereto forwardly of the frontframe 13 and hold-down bar 28. The arm 36 serves as a hitch with which amain draw bar member 3! is connected by pivot means 32 as hereinafterexplained.

The lever 19 functions to adjust the angle between the axes of the twogangs 9 and 16 This lever I3 is fulcrumed, by a pivot 33, on the leftend portion of the front frame i3 near the forward left corner of saidfront frame.

One end portion of the lever 19 overhangs the front frame l3 and isconnected by a pivot 34 with the draw link H3. The other end' portion ofthe lever 19 extends sidewise to the left of the frame 13 and has aflexible control member, such as a chain 35, connected therewith. Theforward end portion of the control chain 35 is connected with a tractorframe member 36 at a point to the left of the main draft connection tothe tractor when the harrow is in use.

The draft means for connecting the harrow to the tractor comprises thepreviously mentioned draw bar member 3| and another draw bar member madeup of two links 31 and 38 that are adjustably secured together as by pin43 passing through selected spaced holes 4!. By adjusting the effectivelength of links 31 and 33 by means of holes 4! and pins 40, the amountof offset of the-gangs 3 and 10 relative to each other can be-regulated.The forward end portion of the link 31 is connected by a bushed pivot 42with the draw bar member 31 and the rear end portion of the link 38 isconnected by pivot means 43 with a fixed lug 44 on the forward rightcorner portion of the front frame [3.

The forward end portion of the draw bar member 3| is connected by apivot 45 with a swinging draw bar 46 of the tractor. The swinging drawbar 46 may be adjusted into various different positions relative to thetractor frame member 36 and is preferably connected with said tractorframe member 36 by pin means 49 being inserted in a suitable opening inthe tractor frame member 36.

The bar 20, shown at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, is for the purpose oflocking the right end portions of the two gangs [3 and 14 in any desiredrelative angular position. This bar 23 is connected by a pivot 41 withthe rear frame l4 and is slidably disposed in a U shaped latch member 48that is pivotally connected with the front frame l3 by pivot means 59(Figs. 5 and 6). The bar 26, Figs. 5 and 6, has notches 50 in its topedge portion and is provided at intervals with holes 5|. A stop bolt 52may be inserted in any one of the holes 5| to limit the maximum movementof the bar 26 relative to the latch member 48 through which it slides.

The U shaped latch member 43 has a cross bolt 53 operable in uprightslots 54 therein and adapted to lock within or be raised clear of thenotches 53 in the bar 20.

A lever 55 of inverted U shape fits over the latch member 48 and isconnected therewith by pivot means 56. The lever 55 has horizontal slots51 that slidably receive the outer end portions of the cross bolt 53 sothat the lever 55 will raise and lower the cross pin 53 when said lever55 is angularly moved on its pivot means 56 One or'more tension springs58 are secured to the lever 55 and U shaped member 48. The springs 58are positionedso that their line of pull will be on one side of thepivot means 56 when the cross pin 53 is in a notch 50 in the bar 20 andon the other side of said pivot means 56 when the locking pin 53 israised and retracted clear of the bar 20. In Fig. 5 the locked positionof lever 55 and pin 53 is shown by full lines and the unlocked positionthereof is shown by dot and dash lines. Obviously the springs 58 willyieldingly hold the lever 55 in'either of the two positions in whichitis shown in Fig. 5. A flexible control means 60 is connected with theupper end portion of the lever 55 and extends forwardly to the tractorfor operation by the driver. A pull on the control means 63 will movethe lever 55 from the full line locked position of Fig. 5 into the dotand dash line released position. A proper flip of this means will movethe lever 55 from the dot and dash line released position of Fig. 5 tothe full line locked position. Of course, devices may be provided todirectly move (by a pull thereon) the lever 55 from its dot and dashline position to its full line position, but the same have not beenfound necessary in practice. Thus, devices shown in detail in Figs. 5and 6 are illustrative of one convenient means, operable from thetractor, for rigidly and adjustably holding the gangs at differentangles relative to each other.

In operation, the chain 35 is connected with the frame member 35 of thetractor a substantial distance to the left of the draw bar connection45-46. This chain 35 is adjusted so that it has very little or noslackness when the harrow gangs are positioned at a desired angle ofdivergence for cultivating the ground and the-tractor is traveling in astraight line, as illustrated in Fig. l.

' If the driver wishes to make a right turn he will first move thelever: 55 tounlatched position (the dot and dashline positionof Figzt)and will then begin ,to turn the tractor to the right and into theposition shown in 'Fig. 2. I When the harrow is being pulled directlyforward the tractor name. member 3S 'will' beiin the-:positi'on'shown'in Fig. I. In such position the flexible connector or-rop'e 35 will beslightly slack; The pull from the tractor will'be exerted through links3! and [3 to the frame It. Also, the links 31 and 38 will connect thelink (it with the-front frame I3- The front frame l3 is prefera-blylocked to the rear frame [4 by'adj ustable link 20. "At the same timelinks l6 and llwill maintain theframes I 3 and i l inthe angular.

relationshown in Fig." 1 so long as the tractor pulls in the directionshown in Fig. l and through link 3| and with fiexibleconnector 35'slightly slack.

; Because of the direction of the discs ll of the front gang 9 and thehitch connection, the discs I l of the front gang will tend to followwell in the ground and not move upwardly. On the other hand because ofthe direction of the discs H of therear gang l0 and the fact" that thehitch connection connects substantially with the left end upper portionof rear gang Hi, the right discs H of the rear gang I!) tend to move outof the ground and therefore I preferably provide a support 6|, fragmentsof which are broken away. Thus suitable weights may be located on thesupports 6| so that the right end portion of the gang I 0 maintains theproper elevation for proper operation of the discs I I.

As the tractor frame 3% angularly movesfroin thefposition shown in Fig.l to the position shown in Fig. 2 there will be increased pull on therope 35 anda relative decrease of pull on the linkage Sl-j-l-li. Thusthe lever lewill turn clockwise and from-the'position shown in Fig. l tothe position shown in Fig. 2. This will angularly move the two gangsrelative to each other in such a manner as to reduce or entirelyneutralize their angle of divergence to the right, or this movement canbe sufficient to position these gangs so that the lines of their axeswill converge toward the right. Ob-

viously the harrow can be readily turned in a direction toward which thelines of the axes of the gangs converge or in either direction if theconvergence is substantially eliminated.

In practice I find that a satisfactory right turn can be made when theaxes of the two gangs are substantially parallel, as shown in Fig. 2.

The members it to 20, 35, 3|, 3'! and 33 of this harrow interconnect thetwo gangs 9 and it and provide for relative angular adjustment of saidtwo gangs between the substantially parallel position shown in Fig. 2and the relatively inclined position shown in Fig. l.

When the tractor, in making a right turn, begins to straighten itscourse it will tend to slack the chain 35, allow counterclockwisemovement of the lever l9 and relative forward motion of the links SI andit. This will allow the two gangs 9 and ill to begin to assume adivergent angle. When the tractor has completed its turn and is againmoving on a straight course the two gangs will assume a given angle(depending upon the relative effective length of links 3? and 38) unlessthe operator, by manipulation of the lever 55, looks said two gangstogether at a lesser angle.

The reach bar 16 connects the front and rear gangs together for relativeswingingmovement. The diagonal link l1 holds the front and rear gangs inthe correct adjustment relative to each other transverse to theirdirection of travel. Also this link I! is the member whiclrwithstandsthe balanced side thrust in opposite direction of the two gangs. Inthis'connection'it is to' :be noted that the rear gangis'positionedsothat its discs I I will cut out the cores of earth left between thediscs I I .of the front gang;

. The draw. link i8 is part of the mechanism through which a pull-isexerted and cooperates in the angular adjustment of the two gangs. Thelever [B connects link I8 and rope 35 and transmits the force employedto reduce the angle'of divergence between the two gangs in making aright turn. Obviously, changes may be made intheforms; dimensions, andarrangements of the parts of my invention, without departing from theprinciple ther'eof,-the above setting forth only'a. preferred. form ofembodiment.v I claim: 11 An offset harrow comprising a front harrowgang; 2. rear harrow gang; a reach bar connecting said two gangs intandem for relative angular movement of the gangs; a diagonal linkconnecting said two gangs and relatively positioning said two gangs indirections longitudinally of their axes; a locking bar adjustablyconnecting said two gangs adjacent one side of the harrow; a draw barmember having one end connected with the rear gang adjacent the side oftheharrow opposite said locking bar and the other end adapt ed to beconnected with a harrow drawing means; a lever *fulcrumed on the frontgang and having pivotal connection with said draw bar member; and leverturning devices adapted to be connected-with the harrow drawing meansforangu Iarly moving the lever to control the relative angular positioningof the gangs by turning of theharrow drawing means.

2.- An offset harrow comprising a front and-a rear gang positioned inrelatively inclined relation when in normal operation; a draw bar memberconnected with one end portion of said rear gang; a reach bar having itsforward end pivotally connected with the front gang substantiallymedially of the length of said front gang and having its rear endpivotally connected with the rear gang approximately mid way between thecenter of said rear gang and the end thereof that is connected with saiddraw bar member; a diagonal link connecting said two gangs andrelatively positioning said two gangs in directions longitudinally oftheir axes; a locking bar adjustably interconnecting the end portions ofsaid two gangs remote from said draw bar member; a lever fulcrumed onthe front gang outwardly from said draw bar member and having a pivotalconnection with said draw bar member; and remotely controlled hitchmeans connected with said lever for moving said lever to vary therelative inclination of said gangs.

3. An offset harrow comprising a front and a rear gang; a front frameand a rear frame carried by the respective gangs; a draw bar memberconnected with one end portion of said rear frame; a reach bar havingits forward end pivotally connected with the front frame and having itsrear end pivotally connected with the rear frame; a diagonal linkconnecting said two frames and relatively positioning said two gangs indirections longitudinally of their axes; hold-down bars rigid with saidframes and spaced above said discs; a reach bar pivotally connected tothe mid forward portion of the said front gang and forwardly of itsdiscs and to the side rearward portion of the said rear gang andrearwardly of its discs for connecting the said gangs in tandem forrelative angular movement; a diagonal link connecting the said gangs andrelatively positioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally oftheir axes; lever means controlling the relative angular position of thesaid gangs, pivotally mounted on the said front gang and having armportions extending to opposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a linkconnecting one arm portion of said lever means to the rear gang; hitchmeans for directly connecting the other arm portion of said lever meansto a harrow drawing means; and a draft means connecting said link tosaid harrow drawing means.

5. An offset harrow comprising a front harrow gang having discs; a rearharrow gang having discs; a reach bar pivotally connected to the midforward portion of the said front gang and forwardly of its'discs and tothe side rearward portion of the said rear gang and rearwardly of itsdiscs for connecting the said gangs in tandem for relative angularmovement; a, diagonal link connecting the said gangs and relativelypositioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes;lever means controlling the relative angular position of the said gangs,pivotally mounted on the said front gang and having arm portionsextending to opposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a link connectingone arm portion of said lever means to the rear gang; flexible hitchmeans for directly connecting the other arm portion of said lever meansto a harrow drawing means; and a draft means connecting said link tosaid harrow drawing means.

6. An ofiset harrow comprising a front harrow gang having discs; a rearharrow gang having discs; a reach bar pivotally connected to the midforward portion or the said front gang and forwardly of its discs and tothe side rearward portion or the said rear gang and rearwardly of itsdiscs for connecting the said gangs in tandem for relative angularmovement; a diagonal link connecting the said gangs and relativelypositioning the said gangs in directions longitudinally of their axes; adraw bar means having one end portion adapted to be connected with aharrow drawing means and the other end portion thereof connected withthe said rear gang adjacent one side portion of said gang; lever meanscontrolling the relative angular position of the said gangs, pivotallymounted on the said front gang and having arm portions extending toopposite sides of said pivotal mounting; a link connecting one armportion of said lever means to said rear gang; hitch means for directlyconnecting the other arm portion of said lever means to a harrow drawingmeans; and a draft means connecting said link to said harrow drawingmeans.

BRUCE E. ROSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

